East Connector Trails:
Riverside Drive and the streets that connect to it (Chapman, Swinburne etc) together make up one of the longest cultesacs is the District of North Vancouver - all vehicular access in and out of the Seymour Valley community is via Mt. Seymour Parkway. Transit buses currently do not serve our community directly, instead residents must get themselves to bus routes in other communities. The closest bus routes are along Berkley Ave. in Blueridge to the east and along Mt. Seymour Parkway to the south. Accessing Mt. Seymour Parkway safely by foot is a challenge in itself - see the Sidewalks issue for a discussion on community efforts to improve pedestrian movements north and south. The community has been striving to improve access to the east via Blueridge for some time.
There are two connector trails that connect Blueridge to the Seymour Valley:
A. Upper Blueridge: DNV maintained stairs that connect Rivergrove Place with the Berkeley/Sechelt intersection. Several years ago, the District installed an unlighted stairway on the very steep section of this trail. This trail now provides the shortest route for Riverside north area residents to the nearest bus stop, schools and playgrounds and is heavily used all year.
B. Lower Blueridge: very rugged, non-maintained trail that connects the 1100 block of Riverside with Carnation just west of Berkley. Lightly used, especially in wet season.
East Connector Trails:
Long standing requests for Upper Trail improvements include:
1. Lighting: This is one of the few pathways between residential areas in Seymour, which does not have overhead lighting. It is the longest unlighted connecting pathway in Seymour. The stairs have been built at considerable expense. They are well used and poorly maintained. For the safety of its users and residents, adequate lighting needs to be installed. Residents do continue to use the trail in darkness and are at great risk of tripping. Also those that do not use the trail are also at risk. Some trail users build torches out of newspapers and newsletters that are left on buses. Fire risk is greatly increased due to lack of lighting.
2.Additional Stairs: One section of the trail does not have stairs and is too steep for many users. This section is dangerous to walk on, especially in wet conditions. Another set of stairs and handrail installed in this steepest section would also improve safety.
3. Crosswalks: There is an Abbey Road style crosswalk at Berkely and Carnation, the location of the less used lower connector trail but not at Sechelt and Berkely, the location of the more busy upper connector trail.
1) Safety. Due to lack of lighting, crosswalk and lack of stairs, trails are not as safe as they should be.
2) Fire prevention. Transit users have been seen making torches to light up the pathways after dark. Under dry conditions, a fire could be a disaster.
3) Environment. There should be as few obstacles as possible to the use of public transit.
Feb 27, 2004. Maplewood School Closure
- Implications on school closures. Letter
to District.
Feb 23, 2004. Trail lighting
- Purchase a flashlight: Letter from
Resident opposed to trail lighting.
March 28, 2003. Crosswalk
- Community Request for Berkly Crosswalk. Crosswalk
Request.
- Community Request for Crosswalk Rejected. Crosswalk
Rejection.pdf
March 31, 2003. Lighting.
- email from Blueridge residents expressing concerning over fire risk and
request lighting as a solution. Districts Rejection is included. Lighting
Requested & Rejected
- Blueridge Community Newsletter follow explaining risks to residents .
Bluerigde/Riverside
Stairs Safety Problem.